North Carolina business, political leaders want citizenship for DACA recipients: 'The time has come'

Campaign Action

A survey of political, educational, and business leaders in North Carolina found “near unanimous” support for putting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients onto a pathway to citizenship. “Every bone in the bodies of these young people is American,” said Michael Marsicano, president and CEO of Foundation for the Carolinas. “The time has come to create the pathway now and work through other immigration disagreements separately.”

North Carolina is home to about 25,000 DACA recipients, and nationally, approximately 700,000 young immigrants are program beneficiaries. All face being torn from the only country they’ve ever known as home, following Donald Trump rescinding the program a year ago, and ongoing Republican efforts in the courts. This is happening despite immense public support for allowing DACA recipients to stay, both nationally, and in the state.

Among North Carolina leaders, “thirty said DACA recipients should have a pathway to citizenship, while seven agreed but qualified their response. One person did not answer the question. No one said no,” reported The News and Observer. “The U.S. should fulfill its promise to grant status to DACA recipients and include them into the family of America,” said Paul Cuadros, a UNC-Chapel Hill educator. “DACA recipients have not only earned this status but will greatly add to our society and life.”